In a matchup now considered a classic in African football, Nigeria’s Super Falcons and South Africa’s Bayana Bayana are poised to clash in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers later today.
The second leg of the decisive qualification phase for the Games will unfold in Pretoria, South Africa.
Nigeria enters the game with a slender advantage, having secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Banyana Banyana in the initial leg of the contest held in Abuja. Rasheedat Ajibade’s lone goal in that encounter propelled Coach Randy Waldrum’s side one step closer to securing a coveted ticket to the Paris Games.
Despite this lead, the Super Falcons are keenly aware that their task is far from over and must deliver a strong performance in South Africa to cement their qualification. The objective is crystal clear: avoid defeat in Pretoria to clinch the coveted spot.
The history between these two footballing nations is rich, spanning back to their first encounter in a 1995 World Cup qualifier. Out of the 24 meetings since then, Nigeria emerged victorious in 15, while South Africa triumphed on four occasions. However, Banyana Banyana is expected to put up a fierce fight, as evidenced by Nigeria’s recent victory being their sole win against the South Africans in the past six years. Notably, Nigeria has never suffered defeat against South Africa on their home turf.
As Nigeria gears up for the match, they do so without any injury concerns, with star forward Asisat Oshoala set to feature prominently after being on the bench in the previous fixture. The highly anticipated clash is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 pm Nigerian time and 7:30 pm in South Africa, with the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria serving as the battleground for this crucial encounter.
